Woman Sitting on Veranda - Kitagawa Utamaro
Archival giclée
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Description
A serene woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting a woman resting on a veranda, showcasing the artist's mastery of the bijin-ga genre.
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro captures a quiet moment of domestic repose. The subject, a woman in a kimono, sits upon a veranda, her posture relaxed and contemplative. Utamaro, a master of the bijin-ga genre, focuses on the grace of the female form and the subtle interplay of fabric and space. The composition is balanced by the vertical lines of the bamboo blind and the architectural elements of the house, which provide a structured frame for the figure.
The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft purples, muted pinks, and earthy tones that reflect the natural pigments available to printmakers of the Edo period. The kimono features a delicate floral pattern, rendered with precision, while the surrounding environment remains sparse. This choice directs the viewer's attention to the woman's expression and the gentle folds of her clothing. A small tea cup and a personal accessory rest on the tatami mat beside her, suggesting a brief pause in her daily activities.
Utamaro is recognised for his ability to convey psychological depth through the tilt of a head or the placement of a hand. In this work, the figure's downward gaze and the way she holds her fan create an atmosphere of stillness. The print demonstrates the technical skill involved in the ukiyo-e process, where multiple carved blocks were used to build the image layer by layer. The lines are fluid and controlled, characteristic of the artist's mature style. This piece offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the late eighteenth century, where beauty was found in simplicity and the quiet observation of everyday life. The print remains a clear example of the artist's contribution to the development of portraiture within the Japanese woodblock tradition.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Woman Sitting on Veranda - Kitagawa Utamaro
Artist Biography
Kitagawa Utamaro
Almost nothing is certain about his early life. He was born around 1753, possibly in Edo, possibly in Kyoto, possibly in Kawagoe. He began publishing prints in the 1770s under the guidance of the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, who recognised what Utamaro could do with a portrait of a woman.
What he could do was unprecedented. He invented the okubi-e format: large head-and-shoulders portraits of individual women, mostly from the Yoshiwara pleasure district, printed in close-up with minimal background. Before Utamaro, bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) showed groups of figures in full length. He isolated the face, the tilt of the head, the expression. The prints are psychologically specific in a way that had not existed in Japanese printmaking.
He also published books of insect studies and volumes of shunga (erotica), and he made portraits of ordinary town women, not just courtesans. Ohisa and Okita, two shopgirls who appeared in his Three Beauties of the Present Day, became famous across Edo because of his prints. He turned real people into celebrities, which may be the first documented instance of an artist functioning as a kind of media platform.
Tsutaya Juzaburo died in 1797. Utamaro was reportedly devastated. Some critics feel his work never reached the same level afterward. He produced over two thousand prints in his career.
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